Division board for beehives



F. D. 'BOWERS.

DIVISION BOARD FOR BEEHIVES- APPLICATION FILED Auazr. 1921.

1,420,960. Patentedlune 27, 1922,

a I z I r .7 i i j 5 w W A 4 me :o. nownns, or sueanc-aovn, PENNSYLVANIA.

DIVISION BOARD FOR BEEI-IIVES.

Application filed August 27,1921, Serial No. 495,931.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnn DnNron BowERs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sugargrove, in the county of WVarren and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Division Boards forBeehives, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in division boards and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with beerhives, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character with novel and improved means whereby the same may be adjusted to be easily, quietly and quickly placed in the hive whether the hive be a little too long or a little too short and whereby the board is maintained rigidly where placed but can be removed quickly and without jar.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel and improved board of this general character which is applied within the hive in a manner whereby it confines the bees and no drafts of cold air pass in around the ends thereof nor warm air escape from the bee cluster.

' The invention consists in the details of construction and 1n the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved division board whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will Figure 3fis a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3.3 of Figure l; and

F igure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2. My improved board as herein disclosed comprises an elongated body member B preferably of wood and which has secured to one edge a metallic strap'l, The upper end portion of. the strap 1 is laterally directed, as at2, to provide a supporting lug or ear." The strap is also provided with the outstanding burs 3 toeflect a gripping action with the adjacent wall of the hive when the board is applied to assure the proper maintenance of the board in desired position.

Slidably mounted upon the opposite end portion of the body B is a capG preferably of metal and which includes the side plates 1 and 5 having their outer margins connected by the edge plate 6, said plate 6 being also provided with the outstanding burs 7 to facilitate the requisitemaintenance of the board in desiredoposition within the hive. The upper and lower marginal portions of one of the plates, as 4, is defined by the inwardly directed flanges 8 which have relatively close contact with the adjacent edges of the board, the upper flange extending outwardly beyond the edge plate 6 to provide a supporting lug or ear.

The plates 4 and 5 are connected by a cross member or -bolt 9 which is also directed through a slot 10 extending longitudinally of the body B. The member or bolt 9 extends beyond one of the plates, as 4, said extended portion passing through arcuate slot 11 provided in an eccentric plate 12. The plate 12 is pivotally connected, as at 14, with the body B and at a point eccentric to the axis of the slot 11.

Theplate 12 is provided with an operating,

member or handle 15 whereby requisite rocking movement may be imparted to the plate 12 to extend or retract the cap C as the requirements of practice may necessitate.

The extended portion of the cross memher or bolt 9 is provided with a head 16 which overlies the plate 12 at opposite sides of the slot 11 whereby the plate 12 at all times is in operative relation with respect to the cross member 01 bolt 9.

Upon rocking or swinging the plate 12 in one direction, the cap C is retracted so that the division board may be readily and conveniently applied or removed from within the hive. After the board has been properly' applied within the hive, swinging or rocking movement of the plate 12 in the opposite direction causes the cap C to move outwardly, resulting in the board B being effectively held within the hive and in a manner whereb the bees are confined without drafts of cold air passing in around the ends ofthe board or warm air escaping from the bee cluster. .The'division board completely bridges the hive and permits packing material being pressed firmly behind the board without danger of crowding it over against the combs or bees and also prevents crowding over when the frames are removed from within the hive.

My improved division board can be removed without sticking and its construction is such to prevent warping. It has also been found, in practice, that no bee can get behind it and that it is of especial advantage in building up weak colonies and nuclei. lVith my improved board, it is also possible to bring the packing material up close and snug around the cluster without in any way hindering free access to combs and bees in caring for them. 7

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a division board constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by rea son of the convenience and facility with whioh it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1 A division board for a bee hive comprising a body member having an outstanding supporting lug at the upper portion of an end thereof and a cap slidably mounted upon the opposite end portion of the body member, said cap bein provided with an outstanding supporting lug at the upper portion of the outer end thereof.

2. As an article of manufacture, a division board for a bee hive comprising two mem bers, one of said members being an elongated body member and the second member constituting a cap snugly and slidably mounted upon an end portion of the first named member, the outer ends of both of the members at their upper portions being provided with outwardly directed supporting lugs, and co-acting means carried by both of the members for bodily shifting the members one with respect to the other, the outer ends of the members being provided with penetrating means.

3. A division board for a bee hive comprising a body member having an outstanding supporting lug at the upper portion of an end thereof, a cap slidably mounted upon the opposite end portion of the body member, said .cap being provided with an outstanding supporting lug at the upper portion of the outer end thereof and means for imparting slidin movement to the cap independently of t e board.

4. Adivision board for a bee hive comprising a body member having an outstanding supporting lug at the upper portion of an end thereof, a cap slidably mounted upon the opposite end portion of the body member, said cap being provided with an outstanding supporting ing at the upper portion of the outer end thereof and coacting means carried by the coacti-ng member and cap for imparting relative sliding movement between the cap and member.

5. A division board for a bee hive comprising a body member, a cap slidably mounted upon one end portion of the body member, a cross member connecting the sides of the cap, said body member being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot through which said cross member passes, and a team element carried by the body member and engaging the cross member for imparting relative sliding movement between the cap and body member.

6. A division board for a bee hive comprising a body member and a cap slidably mounted upon one end portion of the body member, the outer ends of the body member and cap being provided with penetrating means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

FRED D. BOWERS. 

